Knitting machine



April 1942- H. e. DICKENS 2,278,869

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3nventor:

HOWHEOEEADYDICKENS April 7, 1942. H. G. DICKENS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor: H0 wneo GRADYDICKENS (IttomegS April 7, 1942. H. G. DICKENS KNITTING MACHINE 6 Shets -Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 15, 1941 Snvcntor, H0 WEED GUDY DICKENS April 7, 1942. H. G. DICKENS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lIlilIl v HOWARD @KADYD/CKENS H. G. DICKENS KNITTING MACHINE April 7, 1942.

Filed Feb. 15, 1941" 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lee.

H. G. DICKENS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 April 7, 1942.

attorney 5 Hownreo GRADY DICKENS Patented Apr. 7, 1942 KNITTING MACHINE Howard Grady Dickens. Thomasvllle, N. 0., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Hemphill Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 15, 1941, Serial No. 379,053

19 Claims.

This invention relates to hosiery manufacture and more especially to a wrap'stripe apparatus. It is common practice to form walewise stripes, clocks or other ornamentation in hosiery by feeding certain wrap strands to spaced groups of elevated needles during ordinary knitting. These spaced groups are usually elevated above the remaining needles in advance of the knitting point sufficiently to engage the wrap strands as they are 7 fed. At the same time, the conventional stocking yarns or strands are fed to all of the needles in advance of the knitting point thereby resulting in the spaced groups of elevated needles knitting twostrands into the stocking. If desired, the spaced groups of needles may have several needles therebetween which are not elevated high enough to-engage the wrap strands, resulting in the separated needles knitting the wrap strands and floating the same therebetween. The above-mentioned principles of wrap striping are set forth in my co-pending'patent applications Serial No. 312,001 filed January 2, 1940, now Patent No. 2,244,330, and Serial No. 326,074 filed March 26, 1940, now Patent No. 2,244,331.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvement in a wrap yarn feeding mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a plurality of radially disposed strand feeding means which are mounted for rotation within the needle circle about a fixed axis which is disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the needle cylinder. The axis of rotation of the strand feeding means is inclined so that it approaches the cylinder axis as it progresses upwardly, thereby causing the strand feeding means on the lower end thereof to constantly vary in elevation during rotation. Since there are some who say that difficulty has been heretofore encountered in keeping the wrap strands low enough to be out of engagement with the binder and cutter, and the plate for supporting the same, the parts are so assembled that each wrap strand from its feeding finger clears the binder and cutter plate as it passes therebeneath. In other words, it is possible by employing the inclined axis to position the binder and cutter plate in a lower position than would otherwise be possible.

It is another object of this invention to provide a plurality of radially disposed wrap yarn ,feed fingers mounted for rotation upon the lower end of an inclined shaft and wholly within the needle circle, in combination with selectively oper able cam means for moving the fingers across the needle circle at predetermined timesv to cause the wrap strands to be engaged by single or spaced groups of raised cylinder needles. These raised needles are subsequently lowered at the knitting point to knit the wrap strands into the stocking along with the regular yarn. By employing cam means to operate the yarn fingers which are normally disposed within the needle circle, it is not necessary to raise the wrap yarn feeding means when the heel and toe portion of the stocking are being knitted.

It is a well known fact that during the knitting of the heel and toe portions of the stockings in circular knitting machines, that certain of the needles are raised to a higher elevation than when knitting other portions. In many cases it is necessary to raise the Wrap yarn feeding mechanism a substantial amount during heel and toe knitting to prevent engagement of the raised needles with the feeding attachment, or with the wrap yarns carried thereby.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wrap attachment as above described to be used in combination with a color drum, whereby stripes having yarns of a plurality of colors therein can be formed in stockings.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wrap attachment comprising a plurality of radially disposed wrap strand eyelets mounted for rotation in a circle, which circle intersects with the projected needle circle, said eyelet circle being mounted in a plane which is inclined downwardly and inwardly from the needle circle towards th binder and cutter.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a stocking made with my improved wrap stripe. mechanism;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the top portion of a circular knitting machine showing a portion of my invention associated therewith;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 in Figure 2, said view illustrating the interior portions of the needle cylinder, the binder and cutter plate, the latch ring and the wrap thread feeding attachment;

Figure 3A is an enlarged View through the' wrap yarn finger support;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the color drum illustrating the cam arrangement employed for producing a portion of the color stripes in the stocking;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken through the main drum of the knitting machine illustrating the cam means for moving the yarn into and out of knitting position during the knitting of the heel and toe;

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the main drum illustrating the cam means for operating the shearing mechanism throughout the knittin of the stocking;

Figure 8 is an elevation taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the main drum illustrating cam means for actuating the -body and foot yarn feed finger;

Figure-l is a sectional view through the main drum illustrating the cam means for operating I other modified form of the invention;

Figure 15 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4, and taken along the line |-|5 in Figure 14.

Referring more particularly to the drawings (Figure 3) the' numeral l0 denotes a hollow standard upon which is rotatably mounted a beveled gear said beveled gear meshing with another beveled gear l2 on main drive shaft l3. The central portion of the beveled gear II is hollow as at 4 and has integral with the upper portion thereof a circular apron l5, around which needle cylinder I6 is fixedly mounted. This needle cylinder has suitable vertically disposed peripheral grooves |1 therein for accommodating a plurality of knitting needles a few of which are shown and designated by reference characters l8, I9, 20 and'2l (Figure 11).

The cam and needle arrangement is very similar to the disclosure made in my prior patent application Serial No. 326,074. It will be noted that the needles l8 and I9 are identical with the exception that the needles l8 have short butts and the needles l9 have long butts. Similarly, the needles 20 and 2| have short and long butts respectively and are shown positioned in groups of two at spaced intervals in the needle cylinder so that they may be elevated to take the wrap yarn. It is of course to be understood that any desired arrangement of needles can be made.

When the needles are in the extreme right-hand position in Figure 11, all the needle butts rest upon the cam ring 22, and during normal operation the needles will move from right to left during knitting. The needles 20 and 2| have short and long butt jacks 23 and 24 thereunder, respectively, the butts on the jacks being adapted to move from right to left within a groove 25 along with their respective needles thereabove.

As the needles l8 to 2| inclusive move to the left, the respective butts gradually approach an inclined cam 26 which serves to raise all needles to a higher elevation and at the same time the butts of jacks 23 and 24 gradually approach an inclined cam surface 21 of a movable cam 28.

The inclined surface 21 is positioned so that the butts of the jacks 24 will not contact this surface as quickly as the butts of the needles contact the inclined surface 26 thereabove. This arrangement makes it possible for all of the needles l8, I9, 20 and 2| to be raised by inclined cam surface 26 to a common elevation before the jacks 23' and 24 are raised to elevate their respective needles 20 and 2| to a still higher elevation, such asshown in the central portion of Figure 11. In other words, the needles 2| in the central portion of Figure 11 are higher than the adjacent needles I9 and the hooks of these raised needles are in a position for receiving the wrap strands.

The cam 28 is adapted to be moved in and out. at the proper times, that is toward and away from the center of the needle cylinder by a conventional means, not shown. When it is desired that the cam surface 21 engage the butts of all of the jacks 23 and 24 to raise both groups of needles 20 and 2| to wrap strand receiving position, the cam 28 is pushed inwardly toward the center of the needle cylinder the maximum amount by a conventional mechanism, not shown (Figure 12) If it is desired that this cam surface 21 contact only the long butts of the jacks 24, the cam is withdrawn a suflicient amount to clear the short butts of the jacks 23 but at the same time close enough to engage the extremities of the long butts of jacks 24. Under this condition, only the needles 2| will be elevated to wrap strand receiving position.

On the other hand if it is desired not to raise either of the groups of needles 20 or 2|, the movable cam 28 can be withdrawn still farther from the needle circle which will permit jacks 23 and 24 to remain in lowered position as shown in the right hand portion of. Figure 11. In other words, the jacks 23 and 24 will move in a straight line from groove 25 to groove 25a and will not be raised by the inclined cam surface 21. This movable cam therefore provides means whereby certain stripes can be knitted in one portion of the stocking and omitted in the other, as in the case of knitting several stripes on the leg portion and omitting some of these same stripes in the foot portion. After the jacks 23 and 24 pass over the movable cam surface 21 they are again lowered to groove 25a to the position previously occupied in the right hand portion of Figure 11.

Although the jacks are lowered-to their previous position after passing over cam 28, the raised needles remain in elevated position for a considerable distance. These elevated needles continue their travel to the left (Figure 11) from the cam 28 until a levelling cam 29 is reached, which cam lowers the butts of these needles to an elevated position slightly lower than the top of cam 4|]. The cam 40 raises the intermediate or lowered needles l8 and I9 to about the same elevation as the raised needles 20 and 2| occupy after contacting the cam 29. After leaving the cam 40, the butts of all the needles move into contact with lowering cam 4| and stitch cam 42 which move the needles to their normal knitting position.

As heretofore stated, the raised needles 2| in Figures 3, 11 and 12 are in a wrap strand receiving position, that is, as these needles pass to the left, the hook portions will engage a wrap strand 45 which serves to. form clocks or stripes in the stocking. Also another wrap strand 46 is adapted to be fed at the same point to the elevated needles 20 and 2|, if desired. For convenience of description, let us assume that the wrap strand 45 is red'and the wrap strand 48 is blue. These wrap strands 45 and 46 are adapted to be projected across the needle circle and into the path of the hooks of the raised needles 20 and 2| by means of suitable pivoted fingers 41 and 48 respectively, both of said fingers being pivoted at a common point such as 49. There are four sets of fingers 41 and 48 in the present disclosure, which fingers are mounted in a cruciform disk 50 (Figure 2), said disk being fixedly secured upon the lower end of a, rotatable shaft The shaft 5| is inclined upwardly at an acute angle to the vertical axis of the needle cylinder thereby causing the lower ends of the fingers 41 and 48 to rotate in a plane which is inclined downwardly from the top of the raised needles 2I toward the center of the needle cylinder. In other words, when the fingers 41 and 48 are in yarn feeding position, the portion of the strand passing therethrough, is at a higher elevation than at any other time during the rotation of shaft 5|. This is a very desirable feature because it permits the strand to be lowered at the proper time so that it will easily pass beneath a binder and cutter plate 54.

Normally, the lower ends of the fingers 41 and 48 are wholly within the needle circle and it is only when it is desired to place wrap striping in the stocking that the lower ends of the selected fingers are projected across the needle circle to carry a wrap strand therewith and cause it to be engaged by the high needles 28 or 2|, or both. The means for projecting the lower ends of the fingers 41 and 48 across the needle circle at the proper time comprises L-shaped cam levers 55 and 56, the cam lever 55 being adapted to operate fingers 41 and the cam lever 56 being adapted to operate fingers 48. Both of the cam levers 55 and 56 are pivotally mounted as at 51 to the base 58 of a bracket leg I52. Each of the cam levers 55 and 56 has a tension spring 58a which normally tends to move one leg thereof into the path of the upper ends of the fingers 41 or 48 to cause the desired fingers to be rotated about pivot point 49 and to cause the lower ends thereof to cross the needle circle. The amount of rotation of the cam levers 55 and 56 is limited by means of a suitable stop 58.

The control means for the wrap yarn fingers will be described later; however, it, should be noted that it is necessary to provide a suitable cavity such as designated by reference character 68 in latch ring 62 and 6| in a gap closing ring 25I, so that the lower end of the fingers 41 and 48 may be projected sufiiciently beyond the outside of the needle circle so that the projected wrap fingers will pass outwardly and beyond the needle circle so as to clear the upper ends of the raised needles. The extremities of cavity 6| have cam surfaces 6Ia which serve to either open or close outstanding needle latches during heel and toe knitting to prevent damage or breakage.

The strands 45 and 46 which are engaged by the high needles have the lower ends thereof knitted into a suitable fabric such-as stocking 63, said fabric being knitted by the regular body yarns and by means which will be subsequently described. In the present embodiment of the invention, the strands 45 and 46 are employed for placing stripes in the fabric or stocking 63 in the manner shown in Figure 1. Since the strand 45 has been designated as red and the strand 46 designated as blue, the cam and control arrangement for the knitting machine have been so arranged that stripes composed of a series of elongated vertical areas will be formed in the fabric, said stripes comprising alternate red and blue areas 66 and 61 which extend from the lower edge of the stocking top I83 to the toe portion I82.

A conventional sinker ring 69 is provided near the top of the needle cylinder I6. This sinker ring has conventional sinkers I8 therein, the inner ends of which are disposed between the vertically disposed cylinder knitting needles I8, I9. 28 and 2|. These sinkers serve to engage the uppermost fabric loops which are disposed around the upper portion of the needles. The uppermost loops which are held by the needles in the needle cylinder form a part of stocking 63 which moves downwardly on the interior of the needle cylinder as it is being knitted.

The near side of the sinker ring 69 as shown in Figure 2 has a pair of spaced projections 'II and I2 integral therewith said projections having bolts I4 and I5 respectively threadably secured thereon. Between the projections is disposed a vertical post I6, and the proximate ends of the bolts I4 and 15 are adapted to engage during heel and toe knitting, the opposed sides of the post. The post I6 extends upwardly from the upper bed plate 11, said bed plate encircling the intermediate portion of the needle cylinder I6 and also being adapted to support another post 18 (Figure 8) which extends upwardly and has pivoted to the upper end thereof as at I8, the latch ring 62 previously mentioned. The

free end of the latch ring is adapted to be latched in position to the upper end of the post 16 by any suitable means such as a spring 88.

Body yarn feeding mechanism being knitted at a point immediately prior to the, knitting of heel portion 98. Upon lowering the finger 86, the strand 8! is fed to all of the needles therebelow at a point slightly in advance of the stitch cam 42 (Figure 11).

The body yarn 81 is withdrawn and introduced by means of finger 86 which in turn is raised by a vertically disposed thrust bar 95 (Figures 8 and .9), the lower end of said thrust bar normally resting upon a main. drum 96. This drum has cams 91 and 98 on the periphery thereof thereby leaving blank spaces 99 and I88 therebetween. When the lower end of thrust bar 95 is disposed upon the cam 91, the heel portion 98 is being knitted, therefore it is necessary to withdraw the body yarn, and introduce a heel yarn, which will subsequently be described. The heel yarn must be introduced slightly in advance of the removal of the body yarn 81. While the thrust bar 95 is resting upon the blank space I88, the foot portion 89' of the stocking 63 is being knitted and upon completion of the foot portion, the toe I82 isknitted by another yarn to be later described, at which time the thrust bar 95 rides upon the cam 98 to remove the body yarn 81. Yarn 81 remains in the removed position throughout the knitting of the toe portion I82 and the knitting of the top portion I83 on a subsequent stocking.

Top yarn feeding mechanism The mechanism for feeding the top yarn to the needles for making top portion I83 is illustrated in Figures 2, 8, l0 and 11. This feeding means comprises a feed finger I86 which is likewisepivoted as at alongside the yarn feeding finger 86. The free end of the finger I86 has an eye therein through which top yarn strand I01 passes, and after passing through this eye the yarn is knitted by all of the needles in the knitting cylinder at the knitting point therebelow. A thrust bar I08 has the upper end thereof disposed beneath the free end of the finger I06. The lower end of this thrust bar is adapted to rest either upon the periphery of main drum 95 or upon a cam IIO disposed upon its periphery. When the lower end of the thrust Heel and toe yarn feed mechanism The mechanism for feeding the yarn during the knitting of the heel and toe of the stocking 63 is illustrated in Figures 4, 6, and 11. A yarn finger H4 is pivoted as at 85, said finger having a hole in its free end through which a strand I I is adapted to pass. After passing from the free end of the finger II4, the strand H5 is adapted to be engaged by all the needles, when the finger is in lowered position and to be knitted into the heel portion 90 or into the toe portion I02.

The free end of the finger H4 is raised and lowered by means of a thrust bar I I6, the upper end of the thrust bar being adapted to rest upon either the periphery of main drum 95 or upon suitable cams H1 and H8 on the periphery of the main drum. These cams H1 and H8 are spaced apart from each other sufficiently to provide blank spaces H9 and I20. When the lower end of the thrust bar H6 is disposed upon the blank space II9 the finger H4 is lowered to permit the heel portion 90 to be knitted; whereas when it is disposed upon the cam N1 the foot portion 89 is being knitted by the conventional body yarn 81, and therefore the heel and toe yarn is withdrawn. Upon reaching the toe portion I02 the body strand 81 is withdrawn and the heel and toe yarn H5 is introduced. The cam II8 serves to hold the heel and toe yarn in withdrawn position during knitting of top portion I03 of stocking 63.

The free ends of each of the yarn fingers 86, I06, and H4 are normally pulled downwardly against the upper ends of their respective thrust bars 95, I08 and H6 by means of tension springs IOI. When permitted by the thrust bars to be lowered to yarn feeding positions, the free ends of the fingers are in the position occupied by finger 86 in Figure 8.

Yarn cutting apparatus Figures 2, 3, 4, and '1 illustrate the apparatus for cutting the strands '81, I01 and H5 during.

the knitting of the leg, foot, top, toe and heel portions of the stocking. In Figure 3, it is seen that a cutter I25 is mounted as at I26 directly above the inclined binder and cutter plate 54. The binder and cutter plate, in turn, is supported by a bracket I21 (Figure 8) which bracket cantilevers from'the free end of latch ring 62 and has one end thereof disposed substantially over the center of the latch ring opening. The cutter I25 is disposed on top of the binder and cutter plate 54 in such a'pos'ition that as the strands 81, I01 and H5 are withdrawn from knitting position by their respective fingers, they will be passed between the shearing blades I30.

and I3I of the cutter I25 and be cut. At the same time the cutter I25 engages a strand to cut the same, the strand will be passed beneath suitable conventional clamps I28 and H9 of the binder which are disposed on top of the binder and cutter plate 54 (Figure 2).

The cutter I25 comprises a fixed blade I30 and a movable blade I3I. One end oi! the movable blade I3I has the lower end of a linkI32 pivotally connected thereto, the upper end of said link being fixedly secured in the free end of a lever I33 (Figure 4) Lever I33 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at I35 to the upper portion of latch ring 62. The other end of the lever I33 rests upon a suitable thrust bar I31, the lower end of said thrust bar being adapted to rest upon main drum: 95 (Figure 7). The main drum 95 has suitable cams I39, I40, I, I42 and I43 thereon in the path of the lower end of thrust bar I31. 'I'hese cams serve to raise the thrust bar I31, which in turn will permit tension spring I34 to operate cutter I25 at the proper time. For example, the cam I39 permits the cutter to be operated when the body yarn 81 is withdrawn, and the heel yarn H5 is introduced to knit the heel portion the cam I 40 permits the cutter to be operated when the heel yarn H5 is withdrawn and the body yarn 81 is again introduced; the cam I4I permits the cutter to be operated when the body yarn 81 is withdrawn after knitting the foot portion 89 and when the toe yarn I I5 is introduced to knit the toe portion I02; cam I42 permits the cutter to be operated to shear the toe yarn II5 upon its withdrawal prior to the beginning of the top I03 of the next stocking, and finally the cam I43 permits the cutter to be operated by spring I34 to shear the top yarn strand I01 upon its withdrawal while the body yarn 81 is introduced for knitting the leg In the preceding portion of the specification, a description has been made of the yarn fingers 41 and 48 which are employed for directing the wrap strands 45 and 46 across the needle circle to allow the selected high needles 20 and 2I to engage the same and knit the strand in the stocking at these needles. The means whereby these fingers are rotated as a unit and the means for supplying the strands to these fingers will now be described (Figure 3). The shaft 5| upon which the fingers 41. and 48 are pivotally mounted is, in turn, slidably mounted in a suitable hub I50 said hub being rotatably mounted in a bracket I5I. The bracket I5I has a downstanding leg I52 integral therewith, the lower end of the leg having a base 58 which is secured to the upper portion of the latch ring by any suitable means such as bolts I53. The hub portion I50 has integral with the lower portion thereof a beveled gear I 54, said gear meshing with another beveled gear I55 on the end of a horizontal shaft I56. This shaft is also rotatably mounted in bracket I5I. Another beveled gear I51 is fixedly secured upon the shaft I56, which gear I51 meshes with a beveled gear I58 on the upper end of a vertically disposed drive shaft I59, said drive shaft being rotatably mounted in bracket I60 and also in upper bed plate 11 and lower bed plate I6I (Figure 3).

On the lower end of the shaft I59, a pinion I62 is fixedly mounted, and this pinion meshes with a beveled gear I64 on main drive shaft I3. It is therefore seen that members I54, I55, I56, I51, I58, I59, I62 and I64 provide a driving connection between the hub I50 and the main drive shaft I3. The right hand end of bracket II is supported by a set screw I63 extending upwardly from bracket I60 (Figure 3).

Fixedly secured around the hub I50 and above the brackets I5I is a disk I66 by any suitable means such as set screw I61. This disk serves as asupport for a plurality of packages of wrap strands such as designated by the reference characters I69 and I10, there being a package for each wrap feed finger. In the present disclosure the package I69 has the red strand 45 emanating therefrom, which passes downwardly through the lower end of pivoted finger 41, whereas the package I has the blue strand 46 emanating therefrom, which passes downwardly through the lower end of finger 48. Each of the strands 45 and 46 pass through a hole I in a second disk I16 which disk I16 is fixedly secured to the upper end of shaft 5I by any suitable means such as set screw I11. A washer I18 is normally pressed over each of the holes I15 by any suitable means such as spring I19. The spring and washer are mounted around a pin I80 and serve as means for applying the necessary friction upon the strand while passing through the hole I15. After passing through hole I15 the strand passes beneath a suitable guide wire IN, and then upwardly through a hook portion I82 on the free end of a take-up wire I83, said take-up wire I83 being pivotally mounted as at I84 in a pin I85. The other end of the take up wire I83 is engaged by a tension spring I83a which rotates the wire and takes up the slack in the strand.

After passing from hook portions disk I16, and then through bores I88 in the hub I82 the strands 45 and 46 pass through holes I86 in the permits this to be done. However, it is not neces- I 50. From the lower ends of the bores I88 the strands and 46 pass through the eyelets or holes in the lower ends of wrap yarn fingers 41 and 48 respectively. It is evident that there must be a package of yarn I69 for each of the fingers 41 and also a package of yarn I10 for each of the fingers 48.

The sizes of gears II, I2, I62, I64, I58, I51, I and I54 is such that the rotation of the needle cylinder I'6 will be synchronized with the rotation of the shaft 5I. In other words, it is necessary that the needle cylinder I6 rotate at the same number of revolutions per minutelas the shaft5I.

Also it will be noted that the disks I 66 and I16 are connected by means of suitable rods I95, the said rods having their lower ends secured to ,the disk I66 and having their upper ends slidably mounted in disk I16. The rotation imparted position of the feed fingers 41 and 48 and permits proper adjustment of position relative to the hooks of the needles. If for any reason, it is desired while working on the machine to manually pull the shaft 5I upwardly for a short distance, so that the lower ends of the fingers will be above the latch ring, the sliding fit between the members 5| and I5I' and members I95 and I16 ence character 204 (Figures 2 and 4).

.sary during normal operation of the apparatus to raise-the-fingers 41 and 48'or the shaft 5! from the position shown, because the lower ends of these fingers are normally held within the needle circle by means of tension springs 48a (Figure 3A). invention, there are four pairs of fingers, each pair having a wrap yarn finger 41 pivoted on one side of the member 50 and a finger 48 pivoted on the other side. The lower ends of each pair are connected by a tension spring 48a, which pulls these lowerends toward each other and against restricted portion 50a which acts as a stop.

Finger control for wrap yarn strand '66, it is necessary for the cam lever 55 to engage the upper ends of the corresponding yarn fingers.

41 to move the lower ends thereof across the needle circle and thereby cause the wrap strand to move across the path of raised needles 20 and 2i. On the other hand; when it is desired to insert the blue strand 46, in areas '61 of the stocking 63, it is necessary to operate the cam lever 56 in a like manner. Of course when it is desired to withdraw both the red strand and the blue strand to thereby allow only the stocking yarns to be knitted, then both of the cam levers are withdrawn by their respective cams to the positionoccupied by lever 56 in Figure 2. When both levers are withdrawn, the yarn fingers 41 and 48 will rotate entirely within the needle circle.

One leg of the lever 55 has one end of a link 202 pivotally connected thereto, the other end of said link being slidably mounted in upstanding arm 203 of a lever broadly designated by refer- A collar 205 is disposed around the rod 202 at. the desired position in order to serve as a stop and prevent parts 203 and 202 from becoming separated. Lever 204 also has extending therefrom a laterally projecting arm 206, the outer end of which has a vertically disposed rod 201 slidably penetrating the same. The upper end of this rod has a collar 208 disposed therearound which serves to tie the members 206 and 201 together. The lower end of the rod 201 is connected to a lever 209, which lever has a downstanding leg 2I0, said downstanding leg being adapted to engage the periphery of a color drum 2| I, or to engage one of the cam sections 2I2. When the lower-end of lever 2 I 0 engages the periphery of color drum 2| I as shown in Figure 4, the cam lever 55 will be permitted to move to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 thereby causing the fingers 41 to be actuated and the red strands 45 to be drawn across the needle circle for engagement by the high needles. When the lower end of the lever 2I0 is on the cam section 2I2, the cam lever 55 will not engage the upper ends of fingers 41; therefore, none of the wrap strands 45 will be introduced to the elevated needles. v

In a similar manner, the lower lever 56 cooperates with the fingers 48, through which fingers-the blue strands 46 pass. Oneleg of the cam lever 56 has a link 2I5 connected thereto,

In the present embodiment of the rod 22! and above the arm 220 to prevent parts 22l and 220 from becoming separated.

Figure shows the structural connection be-.

tween the lower end of link 22l and the color drum 2! I. It is here seen that the color drum 2 has a cam section 223 thereon spaced in the proper position to cause the wrap strand fingers 46 to be actuated at the proper time to introduce strands 46. connected to one leg of a bell crank-lever 224, which lever has a downstanding leg 225 for contacting either the periphery of color drum 2 or the raised cam surface 223. In the drawings, all of the cam surfaces on the color drum 2 as The lower end of link 22| is pivotally.

' 2,27s,eeo

and foot portion of the stocking is being formed.

well as on the main drum 95 are positioned properly with respect to each other for operation of the knitting machine while the leg portion 88' of the stocking 63 is being knitted. When the lever 224 is positioned as shown in Figure 5, the cam lever 56 will be withdrawn from contact with the upper portions of fingers 48 and therefore these fingers will not be actuated. Of course, when the drum 2 rotates a sufiicient distance to permit the leg 225 to engage the periphery of the drum between the ends of cam surface 223, then the cam lever 56 will be released to permit one of the springs 58 to throw a leg of lever 56 into the path of the feed fingers 48. If desired, both cam levers 55 and 56 may be operated to press the upper ends of a set of fingers 41 and 48 inwardly to simultaneously throw both of their threads in front of a selected needle. This would only necessitate the proper arrangement of the cam surfaces H2 and 223 on drum 2| I.

During the knitting of the heel and toe, it is desirable that both of the cam levers 55 and 56 be held in an inoperative position so that then neither of the fingers 41 or 48 will be actuated and therefore no wrap yarn will be introduced. In order to provide this feature, the main drum 95 (Figure 4) is provided with suitable cam surfaces 236 and 23I thereon, thereby leaving low spaces 232 and 233 therebetween. A suitable thrust bar 234 is adapted to rest either upon the spaces 232 or 233 or upon cam surfaces 230 or 23!, depending upon the portion of the stocking which is being knitted. The upper portion of the thrust bar 234 has a laterally extending pin 231 extending therefrom (Figure 2) which pin is disposed beneath suitable arms 238 and 236 on levers 204 and 2, respectively. During the knitting of the heel portion 80 (Figure 1),the cam surface 236 rides beneath the thrust bar 234 and thereby raises both of the arms 238 and 236 to the position occupied by arms 23!! in Figure 4. This, of course, will cause both of the cam levers 55 and 56 to be withdrawn from contact with feed fingers 41 and 48, resulting in none of the In order to produce this result, it is necessary to cause the cam 2|2 to overlap the cam 223 on the color drum 2 to thereby simultaneously raise the vertical legs 2") and 225 of the levers- 289 and 224 respectively, during the knitting ofthe courses between the areas 66 and 61.

Wrap strand guard and support It is necessary to provide means for supporting the wrap strands on the inside of the needle circle so that the hooks of the raised needles will properly engage the same and so that the strands will be held above the needle latches until they are knitted. In order to provide this supporting means, a suitable arcuate horn or guard 246 is provided, said horn extending through about a one hundred and eighty degree are within and parallel to' the needle circle. This horn has an L-shaped portion 2 integral therewith which in turn is secured to a bracket 242 by any suitable means such as screws 243. The shapes and width of this guard or horn is such as to maintain the proper position of each wrap strand as it moves from the point of engagement by the high needles to the knitting point. At the knitting point, the arcuate horn 246 is narrowed in width and its upper and lower edges are pointed slightly downwardly as at 245 so that the proper tension will be provided on a wrap strand, as it is being released for knitting and so that the strand will be guided evenly onto the needles.

In other words. the engaged wrap strand floats over the guard and in contact with it until the knitting point is reached. When the wrap strand.

is first engaged, it is properly guided beneath the needle hooks and above the needle latch throats to prevent chafing or severing of the strand. The portion is slotted for the reception of the screws 243 so as to permit adjustment of the guard with relation to the needles, the slots being somewhat larger than the screws 243.

It is seen that the guard 246 is adjustably mounted so that it can be concentrically or laterally adjusted. It is seen that the selected needles which have been raised into position to receive the wrap strands have the pivotal points of their latches passing beneath the beveled or inclined portion 245 so that the wrap strands are protected from the latchesof the needles. This inclined portion is extending into close proximity to the knitting point where the needles are lowered by the stitch cam to make the stitch. It will be seen that the yarn at that time is held up in the hook or hooks of the needle or needles so that the latches cannot touch the wrap strand or strands while the needles are moving downwardly to make the stitch. It is seen that this guard holds the wrap strands at an elevation so that they are taken only by the selected striping needles which are raised above the upper edge of the guard.

Latch ring operating mechanism 5 wrap strand fingers 41 and 48. The latch ring normally has a gap therein sufliciently wide to span the gap 258, while the top, leg and foot portion of the stocking is being knitted. The proximate ends of the gap closing ring 25I are bevelled as at 25Ia. and 25") to prevent injury to the latches of the needles. The latch ring also has a cavity 60 in the same coinciding with gap 6! when the gap closing ring 25I is in normal position where the throat latch is open. When the heel and toe portion is being knitted, however, it is necessary to rotate this latch ring a suflicient amount to close the gap 250. Figure 8 shows mechanism for producing this result. It is here seen that the gap closing ring 25I has connected thereto as at 255, a link 256. The other end of the link 256 is connected to the upper end of a lever 251 and this lever, in turn, is pivoted as at 258 to post 18. The lever 251 has integral therewith a laterally extending arm 260, said arm resting upon a projection 26| on thrust bar 262. The lower end of this thrust bar 262 is adapted to rest either upon the periphery of main drum 96 or upon cam surfaces 263 or 264. When the heel portion of the stocking is reached, the cam surface 263 rides beneath the thrust bar 262 and raises the same to thereby cause the gap closing ring 25I to be rotated the proper amount for closing the gap 2511. Likewise when the toe portion is reached, the thrust-bar 262 is again raised in the same manner by cam 264. A suitable tension spring 265 is provided for normally returning the gap closer ring to the proper position.

Fabric support It is desirable to support the upper portion of the fabric in a manner such as shown in Figure 3, during knitting. In order to accomplish this result, a tubular member 268 is provided, the upper end of which is flared outwardly and disposed below the top of the needle cylinder I6. The fabric, after it is knitted is fed inwardly by sinkers 18 and then conducted downwardly through the tubular member 268. The tubular member 268 is telescopically mounted in a second tubular member 210', said tubular member 218 being disposed on the inside of the needle cylinder and having a pin 21| integral with the lower portion thereof. This pin is adjustably mounted in a laterally extending pin 212 and is held in adjusted position by meansof a set screw 213.

Figure 13 shows a slightly modified form of the invention. In describing this form like reference characters will be given like parts, and a detailed description will be given only of the parts which differ. The essential difference be- Figures 14 and 15 show still another modified form of the invention in which the lower end of shaft 5| has a disk 211 fixed thereon, which disk has a plurality of tubular members 218 extending downwardly therefrom. The lower ends of these tubular. members are adapted to intersect the upward projectionof the needle circle in its circular travel and thereby carry strands of yarn such as designated by the'reference character into the path of raised groups of needles 20 or 2|. A second disk 286 is disposed directly above the disk 211 and this disk has holes 28| therein corresponding to the tubular members 218. These holes accommodate the strands 65 and guide them between the bores I88 and the tubular members 218.

The shaft 5i is slidably mounted in the hub member I and when in lowermost position the collar 206 and set screw 2M serve to limit the downward movement Since the tubular members 218 normally pass across the needle circle, when rotating, it is necessary that these tubular members be moved upwardly during the knitting of the heel and toe portions of the stocking, because at this time, some of the needles are elevated slightly higher than in normal operation and would therefore strike the tubular members 218 if they were not raised. In order to effect this raising of the shaft 5! and the associated tubular members 218 during the knitting of the heel and toe, a suitable lever 284 is pivotally secured as at 285 to the free end of the latch ring 62. This lever extends beneath the disk member 280 and has its free end resting upon the free end of a second lever 286, said lever 286 being pivotally mounted. Extending laterally from the lever 286 is a pin 28'Ibeneath which the upper end of a thrust bar 288 is adapted to fit. The lower end of the thrust bar rests upon the periphery of the main drum 96, or upon cam surfaces 289 or 290. When tween the form shown in Figure 13 and the preceding form is that eight separated radially disposed feed fingers 41 are pivotally mounted as at 49, in a star-shaped disk 215 instead of four pairs of adjacent fingers. The disk 215 is fixedly secured on the lower end of shaft 5| as in the preceding form. The equally spaced yarn fingers 41 may vary in number and are all operated by a single cam lever and the cam lever, in turn, may be operated in the same manner as in the preceding form. For example, when it is desired that eight separate stripes be inserted in the leg or the foot portion of the stocking, the cam lever 55 is held in the position shown im Figure 13. When it is desired that no stripes be placed in the stocking, the cam lever is moved to a non-engaging position. In this form of the invention it is not possible to diversify the colors in each individual stripe, because only one lever 55 is employed for actuating the yarn fingers 41.

the lower end of thrust bar 288 is resting upon the periphery of the main drum 96 as shown in Figure 15, the shaft 5| and associated parts are permitted to be lowered to the position shown in Figure 14 where the wrap yarn is introduced to the elevated needles, but when the cam surface 289 is reached, the heel portion is being knitted and therefore it is necessary to raise the tubular members 218 and shaft 5|. Likewise, when the toe portion and the top of the stocking are being knitted, the thrust bar will ride upon the cam surface 290 to hold the tubular members 218 and the wrap strands out of the path of the needles.

It has already been described as to how the shaft 5| is driven as it is clear in Figure 3 that the disk I68 is secured to the hub I58 forming a part of beveled gear I54, and disk I66 has rods I which slidably penetrate the disk I16 secured on shaft 5| and therefore shaft 5| is driven through gear I54, hub I58, disk I66, rods 95 and disk Q16.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 14, the same driving arrangement may be employed, as it is evident in Figure 3 that the rods I95 are long enough to permit shaft 5| to be raised upwardly during heel and toe knitting a *suflicient amount to clear the needles without the disk I16 passing beyond the upper end of rods I95.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive the scope of the invention being set forth in the 4 following claims.

I claim: a

1. A circular independent needle'knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder; means for wrapping strands around a group of selected needles comprising a plurality of wrap strand fingers rotating on a fixed axis in a plane inclined to both vertical and horizontal planes passing through the needle cylinder at a point on said axis which is disposed within the projected needle cylinder.

2. A circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for wrapping strands around a group of selected needles comprising a plurality of wrap strand fingers rotating on a fixed axis in a plane inclined to both vertical and horizontal planes passing through the needle cylinder at a'pointon said axis which is disposed within the projected needle cylinder, said fingers being arranged in movable pairs, and means for selectively moving one of a pair across the needle circle to present a wrap strand to selected needles.

3. A circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for wrapping strands around a group of selected needles comprising a plurality of wrap strand fingers rotating on a fixed axis in a plane inclined to both vertical and horizontal planes passing through the needle cylinder at a point on said axis which is disposed within the projected needle cylinder, pattern means for causing selected fingers to be moved across the needle circle to cause a wrap strand to be presented to a selected needle;

4. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, a shaft disposed above the needle cylinder and lying within the confines of the projected circle of needles, said shaft being inclined outwardly towards the needle circle at its lower end, a plate fixed on the lower end of the shaft and a plurality of wrap strand feeding fingers carried by said plate, pattern means for selectively moving the fingers across the circle of needles for placing wrap strands carried by the moved fingers in front of selected raised needles.

5. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, a shaft disposed above the needle cylinder and lying within the confines of the projected circle of needles, said shaft being inclined outwardly towards the'needl'e circle at its lower end, a plate fixed on the lower end of the shaft, a plurality of wrap strand feeding fingers carried by said plate, the wrap feeding fingers being movably arranged in-pairs, and pattern means for selectively moving one of a pair across the circle of needles to present a wrap strand to a selected raised needle.

6. A knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for feeding at least one yarn to all the needles, means for clamping and severing withdrawn yarns and a plate disposed within the needle circle for supporting the clamping and severing means, means for presenting one or more wrap strands to selected needles comprising a plate rotating on a fixed axis disposed above the needle cylinder and within the confines of the projection of the circle of needles, said plate having a plurality of wrap strand fingers for feeding wrap strands across the needle circle,

theplane in which the lower ends of the wrap strand fingers rotate, when projected, passing substantially below the lower surface of the clamp and cutter plate.-

'7. A knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for feeding at least one yarn to all the needles, means for clamping and severing withdrawn yarns and a plate disposed within the needle circle for supporting the clamping and severing means, means for presenting one or more wrap strands to selected needles comprising a second plate rotating on a fixed axis disposed above the needle cylinder and within the confines of the projection of the circle of needles, said second plate having a plurality of wrap strand fingers pivotally mounted therein, pattern controlled means for swinging the'lower ends of the fingers across the needle circle to cause selected needles to take wrap strands in advance of the knitting point, the plane in which the lower ends of the wrap strand fingers rotate,

when projected, passing substantially below the lower surface of the first plate.

8. A knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for feeding at least one yarn to all the needles, means for clamping and severing withdrawn yarns and a plate disposed within the heedle circle for supporting the clamping and severing means, means for presenting one or more wrap strands to selected'needles comprising a plate rotating on a fixed axis disposed above the needle cylinder and within the confines of the projection of the circle of needles, said rotating plate having a plurality of wrap strand fingers pivotally mounted therein, means for swinging the lower ends of the fingers across the needle circle to cause selected needles to take wrap strands in advance of the knitting point, the plane in which the lower endsof the wrap strand fingers rotate, when projected, passing substantially below the lower surface of the clamp and cutter plate.

9. A knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for feeding at least one yarn to all the needles, means for clamping and severing withdrawn yarns and a plate disposed within the needle circle for supporting the clamping and severing means, means for presenting one or more wrap strands to selected needles comprising a plate rotating on a fixed axis disposed above the needle cylinder and within the confines of the projection of the circle of needles, said rotating plate having a plurality of wrap strand fingers pivotally mounted therein, pattern controlled means for swinging the lower ends of some of the fingers across the needle circle to cause selected needles to take wrap strands in advance of the knitting point, the plane in which the lower ends of the wrap strand fingers rotate, when projected, passing substantially below the lower surface of the clamp and cutter plate.

10. In a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder with needles mounted therein, and also having means for feeding a body strand to said needles, a wrap yarn attachment comprising a plurality of yarn feeding fingers normally disposed within the needle circle and being rotatable about a fixed axis inclined upwardly and toward the vertical axis of the needle cylinder, means for elevating certain of the needles, and means for moving said wrap yarn feeding fingers across the needle circle to cause the wrap yarn carried thereby to be engaged by the elevated needles and to be knitted into a fabric.

11. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and means for feeding a body yarn to the needles, a plurality of wrap yarn feeding means disposed within the needle circle and rotatable about a fixed axis inclined to the longitudinal axis .of .said cylinder,- means for elevating groups of selected needles, and means for passing said wrap yarn feeding means out-' wardly and across said needle circle to thereby position wrap yarnsin the path of the said .ele-

vated needles.

12. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and means for feeding a body yarn to the needles, means for elevating groups of selected needles, a clamp and cutter plate mounted within the needle circle, a plurality of wrap yarn feeding meansmounted for rotation about a fixed axis within the needle circle, pro

I jecting .radially from the axis and positioned between the plate and the elevated needles, said fixed axis being inclined upwardly and above said plate whereby the radially disposed yarn feeding means will be in an uppermost position when delivering yarns to the elevated needles and V in a lowermost position when passing beneath fingers rotating on a fixed axis in a plane in-- clined to both vertical and horizontal planes passing through the needle cylinder at a point' on said axis which is disposed within the projected needle cylinder, said fingers being arranged in movable pairs, means for selectively moving one of the pairs across the needle circle to present a wrap strand to selected needles, and means for moving the wrapstrand fingers to normal position after the wrap strands have been caught by the selected needles.

14. A circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, means for wrapping strands around a group of selected needles comprising a plurality of wrap strand fingers rotating on a fixed axis on a plane inclined to both vertical and horizontal planes passing through the needle cylinder at a point on said axis which is disposed within the projected needle cylinder, pattern means for causing selected fingers to be moved across the needle circle to cause a wrap strand to be presented to a selected needle, and means for moving the wrap strand fingers to normal position after the wrap strands have been caught by the selected needles.

15. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylindena shaft disposed above the needle cylinder and lying within the confines of the projected circle of needles, said shaft being inclined outwardly towards the needle circle at its lower end, a plate fixed on the lower end of the shaft, a plurality of wrap strand feeding fingers carried by said plate, pattern means for selectively moving the fingers across the circle of needles for placing wrap strands carried by the moved fingers in front of the selected raised needles, and means for moving the wrap strand fingers to normal position after the wrap strands have been caught by the selected needles.

16. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, a shaft disposed .above the needle cylinder and lying .i ithin the confines of the projected circle of redles, said shaft being inclined outwardly to- 69 V wards" the need r t M 61 l'e,. at its lower end, a plate fixed on thelowerendizof the shaft, a plurality of wrap-.strandfeeding-fingers carried by said plate, the wrap "feeding fingers being arranged in pairs to bemovablefrom a normal position within the circle, of needles to a wrapping position overlapping the needles, a pattern means for selectivelymoving 'one'of a pair across the circle of needlesto present; a wrap strand to a selected raised needle, and means for moving the,

wrap strand'fingersto normal position after the a wrap strandshave been caught by the-selected needles. Y u

17. A knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, meansfor feeding at'least one -yarn toall the needles, meansfor clampingand severing withdrawnyarns'and-a plate disposed with-.

in the needletcirclefor "supporting-:the clamping and severing;means, means 'i'orjprcfintin'gi one or more wrap strands to selct li1hfl i comprising a plate rotating on a fixeda sfdise-Y "3"; V

posed above .the needle. cylinder and within the co'nfinesof the projection of'the circle ofneedles; said rotating plate having a plurality ofwrajpstrand fingers for feeding wrap. strands across the needle circle and movable from a normal I position within the circle of needles. to a wrap- .ping position overlapping. the needles, "the, plane in which the lower ends of the wrapstrand finge'rs rotate, when pr0jected, passingsubstahtially below the lower surface of the clamp and cutter plate, and means for moving the wrap strand fingers to normal position after the-wrap strands have been caught by the selected needles;

18. In a circular independent needle. knitting. machine having a rotary needle cylinder, a'shaft with and carrying a plurality of wrap yarn feeding elements, a binder and cutter'ilocated' within the circle of needles and having a binder plate as the lowermost element thereof inclined upwardly in the direction of the-lower end of said shaft and plate rotatablethere'with, the construction being such that wrap yarns' feeding from the wrap yarn feeding elements are guided below the said; binder plate as they are carried across the needle circle thereby to avoid interference with the binder. and cutter.

19. In a circular independent needle knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, a binder and cutter having a binder plate located within the circle of needles, and wrap yarn feeding means including a rotatable shaft eccentrically arranged with respect to the circle of needles and inclined outwardly at its lower end at which it carries wrap yarn feeding means for guiding wrap threads to selected needles or groups of needles, means for rotating said wrap yarn feeding means at a l x 1 ratio with the needles, the said binder plate being inclined upwardly in the direction of the wrap yarn feeding means and at an angle substantially normal to the shaft, the relative elevations of the wrap yarn feeding means at the lower end of the shaft and the binder plate being such that in combination with the angular inclination of the elements, the Wrap yarns when drawn outwardly and carried around by needles having taken said yarn, will not interfere with the binder and cutter.

HOWARD GRADY DICKENS. 

